76ers' Noel continues to impress

PHILADELPHIA — Day Two of the Nerlens Noel Comeback Saga went well, and the 6-11 center had a smile on his face to prove it after the Sixers midday practice session at PCOM Wednesday.

“It’s a great feeling just to get back on the court with these guys,” Noel said. “These are new guys, some of them are former pros and (some are) coming from college. It’s great to get out here to run up and down. These guys can run so it was great for my winding.”

Noel’s conditioning appeared to be fine. He had enough energy following the more than two-hour session to go one-on-one with Sam Brown, the nine-year-old son of Sixers head coach Brett Brown.

Noel blocked one of Sam’s jumpers, which was to be expected. Noel is a shot-blocker and does have a nearly five-foot height advantage. However, the younger Brown did go around the Sixers projected starting center one and dropped in a layup during the encounter, which only lasted a few minutes.

Advertisement

“He looked great,” said assistant coach Lloyd Pierce, who will coach the Sixers entry in the Orlando Summer League, which begins Saturday. “We had a scrimmage in today. He got to go 12 straight minutes in back-to-back sessions, which was great for him, good for us, and he looked fine.

“One of the biggest factors we worry about is what conditioning is like in a non-stop setting and today he looked great. He got up and down. He had a monster block. He had a huge steal. He had a dunk in transition so all the things we want to see: Him being able to be fluid, be athletic, to carry it over on both sides of the floor, he did a great job today.”

Conditioning isn’t the only concern. It’s been 16 months since Noel had surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee and 18 months since the former Kentucky standout played in an actual game. And, like they did with the injury, the Sixers are going go slow with their prized big man.

He will see his first game action in a Sixers uniform against the host Magic Saturday in the week-long Orlando Summer League. How much he plays and how long he will be in Florida is unknown. Noel is slated to play in the Las Vegas Summer League, too, which starts July 11. He could play one game or all four before heading to Las Vegas, that still to be decided.

The Sixers did not rush Noel through his recovery process and they’re following the same approach in the summer leagues. Pierce said the team has simplified the offensive and defensive packages so that Noel and the other newcomers can grasp the basic concepts of the system.

And what the Sixers want Noel to do is defend the rim and provide a post presence on offense. Mostly, though, they want him to get game experience.

“There’s nothing like being on the floor,” Pierce said. “All year, he got to sit and listen, now that he’s on the floor he has to sit, listen, think, run (and) react. To try to put all of those things together is a process.”

For Noel, the first step in that process is to regain his feel for the game.

“My defensive instincts are starting to blossom back,” Noel said. “I’m feeling great. I’m making sure my timing is down, staying on the floor on pump fakes. That comes through time, but I feel great.”

His offensive game will take more time.

“It’s definitely developing,” Noel said. “I’ve added a lot of post work to my game. The 15-18-foot jump shot is still a work in progress. The form is cleaned up so now it’s all about reps and reps, building the confidence through our games to make me a (better) shooter.”

While the Sixers bring Noel along slowly, Pierce is counting on point Casper Ware to be like a key asset in Orlando. The 5-9 Ware is one of the few players on the summer league roster with NBA experience. He signed a pair of 10-day contracts late in the season and played in 13 games for the Sixers.

“As a coach in summer league, the one thing you want is a point guard who knows your offense,” Pierce said. “For him to have been here for three or four months, he’s helping me out and then he’s going to help out all of the players who are coming into this gym for the first time (to) get organized. He’s been great. He’s made shots. He’s in great shape. He knows our sets so we can flow through a lot of things easily.”

NOTES

Forward Hollis Thompson has added nine pounds to his frame and tips the scales at 216 pounds ... Outside of Noel, the roster for the Las Vegas Summer League, which begins July 11, has not been finalized. However, draft picks K.J. McDaniels and Jordan McRae are expected to be on that squad ... The Sixers will work out again Thursday before departing for Orlando Friday.